Raposo talks at a slow pace, carefully weighing every word. Against the gravity of the situation and the almost tactile gloom in the Langezijds building, it only emphasises his withheld emotions. ‘Composed? Well, it takes a lot of effort, I can assure you. I don’t know how to feel yet. I’m variously angry, sad, and defiant,’ he summarises.
Insulting decision
The board’s decision to cut his group hurts. ‘It’s insulting,’ he explains. ‘We are being told that we don’t matter all that much. That doesn’t intimidate me at all, because I’m secure in the relevancy of my discipline. In fact, very little of the science ITC does works without us.’ To him it is another indication of reactive governance. ‘In my opinion, leadership here lacks long-term vision,’ he voices an often-heard sentiment. It also impacts the faculty’s image abroad. ‘We have had a good reputation internationally.’
Cartography
He specialises in cartography, the science of capturing geodata in intuitive, customised maps and other data visualisations. ‘The difficulty in map making is including only the necessary information. It’s easy to clutter maps with details of no real importance,’ he explains.
Without proper maps, he continues, it is very difficult to interpret research data about a specific region. As a comprehensive source of information, they help quick decision making, which can be crucial in for instance disaster relief.
A Canadian with Portuguese roots, Raposo came to Enschede roughly six years ago after the department invited him over from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, the United States. ‘I loved the idea of coming to Europe, partly since it gave me closer access to the amazing heavy metal scene here.’
Broader impact
In addition to reputational damage to UT, it impacts other universities, Raposo indicates. ‘We work together on teaching and MS thesis supervision with related departments of universities in Vienna, Munich, and Dresden through the ERASMUS programme. Our share of the workload now lands on their shoulders.’
On a more personal level, it is extra sour for him that only a year ago, students awarded him the ITC Teacher of the Year prize. ‘I care most about my students. They are wonderful and it is fantastic to have the privilege of teaching them.’
Last Monday
Raposo explains he and the rest of the faculty were asked to come into the office on Monday morning. They were then called up one by one into the dean’s office. ‘After the official statement of my redundancy, I was handed a stack of papers detailing the further course of action and information on how to fight the decision if I wished to do so. I haven’t read them yet.’
Many colleagues and students have already checked in and showed support. ‘Of course, there have been tears and shared disbelief, amongst many other emotions.’
Of the three people with whom he shares the visualisation focus, only one colleague wasn’t called. ‘But he is headed towards retirement soon.’
Mismanagement
Will he miss the gardens indoors at Langezijds? ‘Having a view of banana trees in the Dutch climate, and being part of the campus now, is nice. But instead of cutting a scientific discipline, ITC could have saved massively on the costs of maintaining these premises.’ To him, it is another indication of the institution’s misguided decisions.
He does of course understand that the budget cuts are a direct result of the current Dutch government’s policies, which he describes with a few expletives that managed to escape his composedness.
Uprooted
Understandably rattled, Raposo went home on Monday and cuddled his two dogs, Seth and Romeo. In a sense, Raposo feels he is lucky they are his only worry. ‘One of the downsides of working in academia is that in job changes, you generally have to relocate somewhere far away. That’s an unfortunate reality. For me, this doesn’t matter so very much, but imagine having to uproot your whole family, your children who have friends and a life of their own here.’
Although his dismissal does have its consequences. Pointing at an empty guitar stand next to his desk, he adds that he is in a rock band with two S&T colleagues. ‘The band will fall apart now too, I guess. I will have to learn to live without many people whom I have come to consider friends.’
Going home
Where will he go? He doesn’t know yet. ‘I’ve always loved the ambiance of Utrecht, or other bigger Dutch cities in the Randstad. I’m a city dweller. But I currently feel inclined towards returning to Canada. I’m feeling more and more patriotic now that my home country continues to take a stand within the broader North American anti-science climate.’
